Italy: An Expo for the Planet’s Health

A Focus on Sustainability at the World Expo in Milan, Italy

By Eleanor Harte

The theme of the expo is "Feeding the planet, energy for life"
The theme of the expo is “Feeding the planet, energy for life”

The first world’s fair was held in 1851 in Hyde Park, London. It was the first exhibition of global manufactured products and brought together people and products from all over the globe.

Prince Albert wanted to show off Great Britain to the world, and for six months he did just that, showcasing his country’s accomplishments and industries to six million visitors.

Over time, World’s Fairs, or exhibitions as they’re now known, have evolved. What defines an official exhibition? To qualify with the International Exhibitions Bureau, they must be universal, international and specialized. These exhibitions have gone from being focused on manufacturing to concentrating on cultural exchanges, and now tend to be focused on national branding and promotion.

In May 2015, the newest world’s exhibition will begin in Milan, Italy. Expo Milano 2015 will be “the greatest ever event centered on food and nutrition,” according to the Italian Tourism Board. It follow the tradition of world fairs that Prince Albert began in 1851, but with a much more modern twist. The last world exhibition was held in Yeosu, South Korea in 2012. Milan has hosted a world expo once before, in 1906. The theme for this year’s Expo Milano is “Feeding the planet, energy for life”.

Marzia Bortolin, who works for the Italian Tourist Board, said that a major focus of the expo will be exploring ways “to make sure every person on this planet is fed and that there is no waste.” In keeping with this, sustainability will be a major feature of the expo. The protection of the planet will be a major component of the expo.

The aim of the event is to increase participant and visitor awareness and participation in three areas: the right to food that is healthy, safe and sufficient, the preservation of taste and of food culture, and the environmental, social and economic sustainability of the food chain.

The expo website says “a Universal Exposition has the responsibility of leaving a cultural, social, scientific and technological heritage,” and organizers hope to achieve this in part through the presenters, who each host a pavilion detailing their own contributions to agriculture, food and industry.

Each country has a pavilion

The USA Pavilion at the expo
The USA Pavilion at the expo

Countries from around the globe will host pavilions at the expo, with 145 countries and three international organizations presenting. Participants have to be invited by the government of the host country to participate. According to the official Expo website, 94% of the world’s population is taking part in the event.

Each pavilion will provide technical solutions and cultural knowledge as it applies to the theme of providing the world with enough food. The event will explore the future of nutrition as it relates to the coming years in global health.

The USA Pavilion will be centered on the theme of “American Food 2.0: United to Feed the Planet”. The organizers plan to show that America is a great place of innovation in the food industry, but also in culture, business and science.

The pavilion, scheduled to be 35,000 square feet, will be home to a vertical farm, stores, exhibits and more. The farm will be harvested daily, and the building has been designed to combine the very best of American agriculture and industry. It is designed off the image of a traditional American barn and features oak trees, the national American tree. It will present the very best of American culture and industry to the world.

The expo will be open from 10 am to 11 pm daily from May 1 to October 31. This follows the tradition of many other world expos, which frequently have run for a full six months. Over 20 million visitors are expected in that time.

Needless to say, this will bring tremendous tourism revenue to Italy. Certain travel companies have been authorized to serve as “official destination and event partners” and will be offering travel packages specifically for the expo. These deals will pair flights, hotels, and tickets for the expo into one complete package.

Milan, international city

Milan is located in northwest Italy, 35 miles from the border of Switzerland and not much farther from the French border. It’s the second most populous city in Italy, trailing behind Rome, the capital. The city has 1.3 million residents and the inhabitants of the surrounding area bring that total to about 5.2 million.

Milan has a lot to offer visitors
Milan has a lot to offer visitors

The city is a major world fashion and design capital; twice a year Milan Fashion Week is held there and the events take over the city. The expo will coincide with Fall Fashion week, which is scheduled to be held September 23 – 29, 2015. That’s good timing if you’re interested in both of these events.

Apart from fashion, Milan has a lot to see and do. Leonardo da Vinci’s famous work The Last Supper is painted on a monastery wall there. There are world famous structures like the Milan Cathedral. The La Scala opera house, one of the most famous in the world, is located there. The cultural and culinary activities are plentiful, and there is a great amount of things to do when combined with a visit to the Expo.

Infrastructure Updates

As for the city itself, certainly it will be in its best form. Infrastructural updates have been underway for the past few years, and with a highway running close to the expo, as well as an airport, the city is easy to access.

For the six months of the expo, performances, events, meetings and gatherings will take place day and night. There will always be something to do. The city will take on a truly international flair as people travel from all over the globe to witness what the world has to offer.

The hope is that some good will come from the expo. People will learn about nutrition, culture and sustainability, and ideally they’ll take that knowledge home and put it into practice. The goal of the expo is to educate people and guarantee enough food for everyone while protecting the planet.

Tickets to the expo are €39 for a one-day adult pass and €33 for students.
If you’re interested in sustainability and looking to take a European vacation in 2015, make sure you add Milan to the list!

Eleanor HarteEleanor Harte is a journalist and writer based in Boston, MA. She’s fortunate to have studied abroad in Paris and to have visited Ireland, Belgium, Scotland, the Czech Republic, and a few other countries, but she has many remaining on her list! She’s always looking for the next adventure.

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